Liechtenstein: 1 FL TV will not debut in Kyiv; sets its eyes on a future ESC participation

1 FL TV, the national broadcaster of the Principality of Liechtenstein has confirmed to ESCToday.com that Liechtenstein will not debut at the forthcoming 2017 Eurovision Song Contest next May in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The Liechtensteiner broadcaster has informed ESCToday that the country is very keen to participate at the Eurovision Song Contest, hence it plans to begin talks regarding its potential membership and ESC participation with the EBU by the end of the year. The Liechtensteiner broadcaster is not an active member of the EBU, hence it is not eligible to participate in the contest currently.

But the broadcaster faces 2 major challenges in order to fulfill its wish to participate at the Eurovision Song Contest in the future; it requires the support from the government and to solve the financial constraint an EBU membership entails, not forgetting the costs of a Eurovision participation. Once it overcomes these hurdles and it becomes an active member of the EBU we will possibly see Liechtenstein join the Eurovision family!

We must not forget that the landlocked country has a rich musical heritage and has many talented singers, musicians, choirs and orchestras.

2 years ago, 1 FL TV told ESCToday  that Liechtenstein was interested in participating in the contest but had to evaluate the financial costs an EBU membership entails.

1FL TV went on air on the 15 August 2008 and broadcasts in German. The channel is licensed by the government of Liechtenstein.

One thing for sure is that will not see Liechtenstein debut at next year’s Eurovision extravaganza in Ukraine. So far a total of 29 countries have confirmed their potential participation at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.

The deadline for countries to apply for participation at the 2016 ESC concluded on 15 September, hereafter applicant countries have a grace period until 10 October to decide if they are to stay or leave the competition without facing a financial penalty. Many more countries are expected to confirm in the coming days.

The 2017 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 9, 11, 13 of May at the EIC in Kyiv, Ukraine.